Stamp-affixing machine.



No. 769,291. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. J. ATKINSON. STAMP AFFIXINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

g 7 Z f 77' :1 hm ////7 59 r 450 |I V 4 7 M Ia? 5 I uwaufozJacob/[Minaon M bmzoaas No. 769,291. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

QT. ATKINSON. I v STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903. NO MODEL; I '3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 769,291. BATENTED SEPT. 6,1904.

J. ATKINSON. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHBETSSHEET 3.

U ITED" STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

JACOB ATKINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAIMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,291, dated.September 6, 1904.

Application filed April 2'7, 1903. Serial No. 154,513- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J ACOB ATKINSON, a citi zen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements inStamp-Afiixing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled inthe art to which it 'appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in stamp-affixing machines. Theobject of the invention is to provide a machine which will automaticallyfeed and stick stamps upon en-velops, means being provided formoistening the gum upon the stamps, provision being also made wherebythe gum on the flap of the envelop may also be moistened, a furtherobject being to provide a machine of this characterwhich will be simple,strong, and practical, comparatively inexpensive of production, and welladapted to the use for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view th invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which Figure 1 is aside view of the machine. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a side view of themachine with the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical crosssectionalview on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 2.. Fig.

5 is a detail horizontal section through the plunger mechanism and knifeon line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional Viewthrough the stamp-holder and lower end of the plunger mechanism, showinghow the stamp is released and pressed on the envelop. Fig. 7 is a detailview of the means for releasing the stamp-reel. -1

In the drawings, 1 denotes the casing, which incloses thesupporting-frame and operating mechanism.

v 2 denotes the base, upon which is mounted a suitable supporting-frame3 comprising, two vertically-disposed parallel si'des, each sideconsisting of a main fixed plate 4:, boltedor otherwise secured to theforward portion of the base, and a movable plate 5, hinged at itslower-outer corner to the rearwardly-extending portion of the main fixedsection 4:. The plates forming the two sides are suitably spaced apartand braced by cross-bars and shafts, as will be hereinafter described,the

rear section of the frame formed by the plates 5 being adapted from itshinged connection to swing rearwardly from the main section to permitaccess to the interior of the machine.

The front and rear sections of the frame are locked in a closed positionby means of springcatches 6, fixed to the side plates 4: and adapted toengage lugs 7 formed on the plates 5. A bail 8 is arranged above andspans the side plates, the lower ends of the bail being adapted i toengage the spring-catches, so that when it is desired to release thesame to open the frame the bail is pressed downwardly, disengaging thecatches from the lugs and allowing-the plates 5 to swing back.

Between the side plates of the main fixed section of the frame isarranged a-verticallyreciprocating carriage consistlng of a pair ofvertically-disposed plates 9, arranged between vided'with anupwardly-projecting beveled stud 12, which when the head 12 is forceddownwardly is adapted to engage the arms 14: of the levers 13, therebyswinging the lower inwardly-projecting ends out from beneath the block12, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. In the plates 9 areformed vertically-disposed slots 15, which are coin-- cid cut withsimilarly-disposed slots 16, formed in the side plates 4, between whichthe plates 9 are adapted'to slide.

1'? denotes a vertically-reciprocating horizontally-disposed plateadapted to slide between the plates 9 and having formedon its sidesadjacent to the said plates bearing flanges Projecting laterally fromthe plate 17 and passing through the slots and 16, for-med in the plates9 and 4, are arms 18, on one of which is formed an upwardly-projeetingslotted lug 19, in which is pivoted a hook 20, the bill of whichprojects inwardly. The construction of the hook and the lug 19 is suchthat the bill of the hook is allowed to swing downwardly and inwardly toenable it to pass any obstruction in its path of upward -n1ovement, butwill engage obstructions in the pathof its downward movement, the objectof which will hereinafter appear. On the lower side of the plate 17 isformed a tapering plunger-head 21, and on the upper side of the plate isformed a slotted boss 22, to which is connected a ring 23, to which isattached the lower end of a strap 24, which is adapted to be wound upona reel or pulley 25, mounted upon a shaft 26, rotatably mounted in theupper ends of the plates 4. On the shaft 26 is also mounted a spiralspring one end of the same being connected to the said shaft andtheopposite end being connected to the frame, the arrangement being suchthat as the strap 24 is unwound the shaft 26'will be rotated to windupthe spring, the tension of which will upon releasing the strap cause aretrograde movement of the shaft and reel 25 and wind up the strapagain.

27denotes a horizontally-reciprocating dog carried by the plate 17 andhaving a sliding engagementwith the slot in the boss 22 formed on saidplate. The rearwardly-projecting end of the. dog 27 is beveled to forman engaging edge or point, while the forward end of the same isprovidedwith a vertically-disposed opening 28.

29 denotes a vertically-disposed bar or rod fixed at its upper and lowerends to cross rods or bars 30, connectingthe side pieces 4 of the frame.The rod 29 is adapted to pass through theropening 28 in the dog 27 andis ofiset at its lower-end, forming a bend and bringing the lower endofthe bar in a plane in advance of the upper portion of the same.

On-the sides of the box 10, carried by the plates 9, arelaterally-projecting lugs 10, which are adapted to engage guide-slots 4,formed in the plate 4, whereby the-plates9 and box 10 are guided intheir vertical mo ement.

31 denotes a transversely-arranged vertically-disposed plate'fixedbetweenthe side plates 4, and in-said plate is formed ahorizontally-dispOsed feed slot or opening 32, whichis arranged at thelevel of the lower end of the block 12, and in said plate is also formeda central vertically-disposed slot 33.

34 denotes a vertically-reciprocating plate,

; on the lower end of which is formed a knife 35. The plate. 34 isadapted to slide-upon the plate 31 and to be held'in yielding engagementwith the same by means of a bolt 36, fixed thereto and adapted toproject through the slot 33.

On the end of the bolt 36 is screwed a nut, a spring 37 being coiledaround the bolt between the said nut and the plate 31, whereby the plate34 and knife-blade are held in close yielding engagement therewith. Theupper end of the plate 34 is provided with a forwardly-projecting lug38, and a similarly-arranged lug 39 is formed on the plate about midwaybetween the upper and lower ends of the same,

40 denotes a stamp-reel upon which a web or strip of stamps is adaptedto be wound. A strip of waxed or oiled paper 40 iswound with the stamps,the paper serving to protect the stamps from the mucilage on the same,as will be understood. The reel 40 is removably mounted in arms 41,projecting rearwardly from the plates 5, the end 41 of one of said armshaving a hinged connection with the main portion thereof, said end beingheld in engagement with the reel by means of a strong coiled spring 42.The ends of the arms 41 are provided with inwardly-projecting pins,which are adapted to engage similarly-shaped depressions in the sides ofthe reel, whereby the reel is adapted to have a free rotary movement.

43, 44, and denote horizontally-disposed rolls arranged across the frameand journaled in the plates 5, and between the rolls 43 and 44 isadapted to pass the strip of stamps, with its protective strip of waxedpaper. After passing between the rolls the strip of stamps is directedinto a flat metal guide tube or chute 46, while the strip of waxed paperis directed around the roll 43 and between the same and the roll 45,from which it is fed into a box or receptacle for this purpose. From thetube 46 the end of the stamp strip is directed beneath the head or block12, where the end stamp is held by the pivoted levers 13.

47 denotes a spur-gear mounted upon the shaft of the roll 43, and 48denotes a similar gear fixed to shaft 49, rotatably mounted between theplates 5.

50 denotes a spur gear-pinion loosely mounted upon the shaft 49, and 51denotes a ratchetwheel fixed upon the shaft 49. A pivoted spring-pressedpawl 52 is carried by the gear proper direction.

53 denotes a lever pivoted to one of the side plates 4 of the frame, andon one end of said lever is formed a segmental rack 54, which is adaptedto engage the teeth on the gear 50. The opposite end of thelever 53 isin the form of an arm 55,- the outer end of which is beveled or roundedoff, as shown, and'lies in the path of movement of and is adapted to beengaged by the pivoted hook 20, carried by one of the arms 18 on plate17.

of the T-shaped ends are connected to operating-bars 56, arranged oneach side of the rnachine, the forward ends of which are pivotallyconnected to the ends of the arms 18 of the plate 17. The opposite endsof the bars 56 are provided with longitudinally -disposed slots 56,which are adapted to have sliding engagement with studs 56, projectingfrom the side plates of the machine, as shown.

57 denotes curved arms or braces, one end of each of which is pivotallyconnected to a stud 56, and the opposite end is connected to the upperbranch of one of the T-shaped ends of the operating-lever.

-57 denotes-a knob or finger-piece fixed in the forwardly-projectingloop of the operating-lever 56.

In the forward portion of the base of the machine is formed a concavity58, in which is adapted to slide a bed piece or block 59, having anoutwardly and downwardly curved flange or lip 60. The block 59 issupported in the'concavity 58 and normally held above the base by meansof stiff coiled springs 61,

arranged beneath'the block, as shown.

62 denotes a water-tank arranged upon the front edges of the side platesof the frame, and in the contracted lower end of the same is arranged astrip of felt or other absorbent material 63,'the same being in contactwith the water in the tank.

6 denotes a filling-opening arranged in the upper end of the tank andnormally closed by a cap or stopper.

65 denotes a roller .rotatably mounted in a The lower ends of theforward portion of the plates 4: are cut away to form slots 67 above thebase and block 59, whereby an envelop may be inserted below the sameandonto the block 59, the springs beneath said block allowing the sameto be pressed down, to accommodate bulky envelops or small; packages.The front portion of the casing ends above the base for the insertion ofthe envelops, as herein described.

68denotes a regulating-screw mounted in a lug 69, projecting from one ofthe plates 4] above the arm. 55 of the segmental lever 53,

whereby upon lengthening or shortening the ends of the screw the strokeof the lever 53 is, regulated or adjusted, which will cause thefeed-rolls to be turned more or less, according to thesize of the stampsused.

The operation is as follows: The envelop to v be stamped isinserted inthe slots 67 and upon the bed orblock 59, and when inserting the envelopthe face of the same is brought into engagement with the wet felt strip63 bevelop isdrawn out.

diatelybelow thereciprocating carriage carrying the stamp. Theoperatingeleveris now 17, one of which carries the hook 20, which ver53. Further downward .movement of the operating-lever causes thesegmental rack 54:,- formed on the opposite end of the lever 53, torotate the pinion 50, which actuates the train of gears ashereinbefore-described to turn the rolls and feed the stamps from thereel through the tube until one stamp lies beneath the block or head ofthe carriage, where it is held in position by the pivoted levers carriedthereby. When the stamp strip reaches this position, the hook 20 willhave reached the rounded end of the arm 55 and slides from engagementwith the same. ward movement of the operating-lever brings pressed,forcing down the arms 18 on plate" catches or engages with the arm 55 onthe le- Further downthe point of the dog 27 into engagement with v sametime the plunger-head 21 engages the beveled stud 12 -on the plate 12and forces the same down, simultaneously opening the levers 13 andallowing the stamp to drop upon the wet portion of the envelop,theheador block 12 descending upon the same and press ing it in place,when upon releasing the operating-lever the envelop maybe withdrawn fromthe bed or block, and in passing beneath the roller 65 it is furtherrolled and pressed upon the envelop, the. roller also serving to protectthe stamp from the wet felt as the en'- This action of the roller IOO Iresults from the factthat it isrelatively fixed l and its lower side is.lower than the wet felt of the moistening device, so that the rolleracts as a stop to limit the movement of the. block 56, carried by thesprings-61 toward the wet felt, and keep the blocks from con.-

tacting with the felt and from forcing the stamp against the felt. Whenthe operatinglever is released, the spring 25, which has been wound uponthe shaft 26 by the down ward movement of the parts,will unwind,

IIO

causing a retrograde movement ofthe shaft 1 and reel 25, winding up thestrap 24 and returning the plate 17 and its attachedparts to theirnormal positions, the-upward movement of these parts engagingv the lug-.38 on the knife-plate and the segmentalxand operating leversandrestoring them to their normal positions, aswill be understood.

The pawl-and-ratchet connection between: the loosegear-pinion 50 and theshaft 49 permits the segmental rack toturn back toits normal positionWithout causing a retrograde movement of the shaft 49 and the partsdriven thereby.

The gummed edge of the envelop-flap may be passed under the strip offelt connected to the Water-tank, and thereby moistened for sealing.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,

the construction and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood Without requiring a moreextended explanation.

Various 1 changes in the form, proportion,

and the minor details of construction'may be 'resorted'toWithoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I'claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a strip-feeder, a lever, connections operated bythe initial movementthereof to'actuate the strip-feeder, a plungeractuated by the lever at alater period of the movement thereof, amovable cutter operated by the plungeryto-sever-a section from thestrip, laterally-movable means to support the strip-section, and astrip-section 'aflixer subsequently operated by the plunger during thesame movement thereof, to release the strip-section-support1ng meanstherefrom and afiix the strip-section.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of aspring-supported supporting element, a relatively fixed moisteneropposed thereto, and a roller having a relatively fixed axis, disposedin rear of the moistener, bearing on the supporting element and forminga stop to prevent the latter from contacting erated by the plungerduring the same movement thereof, a spring to reversely move the plungerwhen the lever is released, and connections actuated by the reversemovement of the plunger to restore the lever, the cutter and the aflixerto their initial positions.

4:. In a device of the character described,and in combination Withmechanism for feeding a strip of stamps, a reciprocating stamp-applyingdevice, acutter for severing the individual stamps from the strips, astamp-engaging device carried by the applying device, a movable memberadapted to first actuate the stamp-feeding mechanism, then to actuatethe cutter to sever a stamp and then operate the stamp-engaging. deviceto release the stamp as the stamp-applying device moves into applyingposition, substantially as described.

5. In amachine of the character described, the comblnation with asupporting-frame, of

a vertically-reciprocating carriage and stampa vertically-reciprocatingcarriage and stampholder, avertically-reciprocatingknife or cutter, areciprocating plate having laterally-proectmg guide-arms and a dependingplunger- .head, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriage andstamp-holder, automatically-operated means carried by said plate forengaging and reciprocating said knife or cutter, and means forreciprocating said plate, a stampreel rotatably mounted in said frame,and having wound thereon a strip of stamps, feedrolls adapted to unwindand feed the stamps from said reel to said stamp-holder, a train ofgears adapted to drive said rolls, means for actuating said train ofgears to turn said rolls in one direction, means to prevent retrogrademovement of said rolls, and a moistening device supported by said frame,substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting-frame, of a vertically-reciprocating carriage andstampholder, a vertically-reciprocatingknife or cutter,-a reciprocatingblade having laterally-projecting guide-arms and a dependingplungerhead, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriage andstamp-holder, a sliding dog carried by said plate and adapted to engageand reciprocate said knife or cutter, means for antomaticallydisengaging said dog from said cutter, a pivoted operating-lever adaptedto engage said guide-arms to project said plate, and means forautomatically retracting said plate, and restoring said carriage andstampholder and said cutter to their normal posi- "tion, a stamp-reelrotatably mounted in said frame and having wound thereon a strip ofstamps, feed-rolls adapted to unwind and feed said stamps from said reelto said holder, a train of gears adapted to drive said rolls, asegmental lever adapted to actuate said gears to drive said rolls in onedirection, and a clutch device for preventing a retrograde movement ofsaid rolls, and means operating said segmental lever, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupporting-frame, of a vertically-reciprocating carriage andstampholder, a vertically-reciprocating knife or out ter, areciprocating plate having laterallyprojecting guide-arms and adepending plungerhead, adapted to engage and reciprocate said carriageand stamp-holder, a sliding dog carried by said plate and adapted toengage and reciprocate said knife or cutter, a curved rod or bar adaptedtobe engaged by said sliding dog, to disengage the same from saidcutter,

a pivoted operating-lever adapted to engage said guide-arms to prO ectsaid plate, a pul- I ley fixed to a shaft and having wound thereon astrap, one end of which is fixed to said plate, a spiral spring mountedon'said shaft and adapted to be wound up as said shaft is unwound by themovement of said plate,

whereby upon release of pressure upon said plate, said spring willunwind thereby rewinding said strap and retracting said plate which Willrestore said carriageandstamp-holder to their normal position, astamp-reel rotatably mounted in said frame and having wound thereon astrip of stamps, feed-rolls adapted to unwind and feed said stamp fromsaid reel to said holder, a train of gears adapted to drive said rolls,a segmental lever adapted to actuv ate said gears to drive said rolls inone direct1on, and a'clutch device for preventing a retrograde movementof said rolls, a pivoted D hook carried by one of the guide-arms of saidreciprocating plate, and adapted'to engage and operate said segmentallever, and means for regulating the movement of said lever, sub- JACOBATKINSON.

Witnesses:

SAML. S.'1VICOLOSKEY, JOHN H. KIRK.

